2. Will the Orioles add a hitter -- and hike up their OBP -- from outside the organization?

Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Most likely not. The Orioles added various hitters this offseason, such as outfielders David Lough, pictured, and Francisco Peguero, catcher Johnny Monell, designated hitter Delmon Young, Weeks and Rule 5 infielder Michael Almanzar. But only Young has had significant time in the major leagues, and he has a career .316 on-base percentage in eight big league seasons. Only once has he had an OBP above .335 in his career. Several of the new additions have had success reaching base in the minors -- Lough has a .349 career OBP and Weeks' is an impressive .375 -- but that is a whole different ballgame. The Orioles had just two players with at least 150 plate appearances and an OBP over .330 last year: Chris Davis (.370 in 673 plate appearances) and Danny Valencia (.335 in 170 plate appearances). Valencia was traded to the Kansas City Royals in the offseason for Lough. And Nate McLouth, who had a .329 on-base percentage for the Orioles in 2013, left this offseason as a free agent. So it's possible that one of the club's primary weaknesses last season -- the Orioles' .313 mark was 10th of 15 teams in the American League -- worsened. There is still time to improve it with a free agent such as designated hitter Kendrys Morales, whose career OBP in seven major league seasons is .333. But, for now, there doesn't seem to be an obvious increase in OBP on the horizon unless holdovers such as Nick Markakis and Adam Jones improve in that area.

Most likely not. The Orioles added various hitters this offseason, such as outfielders David Lough, pictured, and Francisco Peguero, catcher Johnny Monell, designated hitter Delmon Young, Weeks and Rule 5 infielder Michael Almanzar. But only Young has had significant time in the major leagues, and he has a career .316 on-base percentage in eight big league seasons. Only once has he had an OBP above .335 in his career. Several of the new additions have had success reaching base in the minors -- Lough has a .349 career OBP and Weeks' is an impressive .375 -- but that is a whole different ballgame. The Orioles had just two players with at least 150 plate appearances and an OBP over .330 last year: Chris Davis (.370 in 673 plate appearances) and Danny Valencia (.335 in 170 plate appearances). Valencia was traded to the Kansas City Royals in the offseason for Lough. And Nate McLouth, who had a .329 on-base percentage for the Orioles in 2013, left this offseason as a free agent. So it's possible that one of the club's primary weaknesses last season -- the Orioles' .313 mark was 10th of 15 teams in the American League -- worsened. There is still time to improve it with a free agent such as designated hitter Kendrys Morales, whose career OBP in seven major league seasons is .333. But, for now, there doesn't seem to be an obvious increase in OBP on the horizon unless holdovers such as Nick Markakis and Adam Jones improve in that area. (Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports)

Most likely not. The Orioles added various hitters this offseason, such as outfielders David Lough, pictured, and Francisco Peguero, catcher Johnny Monell, designated hitter Delmon Young, Weeks and Rule 5 infielder Michael Almanzar. But only Young has had significant time in the major leagues, and he has a career .316 on-base percentage in eight big league seasons. Only once has he had an OBP above .335 in his career. Several of the new additions have had success reaching base in the minors -- Lough has a .349 career OBP and Weeks' is an impressive .375 -- but that is a whole different ballgame. The Orioles had just two players with at least 150 plate appearances and an OBP over .330 last year: Chris Davis (.370 in 673 plate appearances) and Danny Valencia (.335 in 170 plate appearances). Valencia was traded to the Kansas City Royals in the offseason for Lough. And Nate McLouth, who had a .329 on-base percentage for the Orioles in 2013, left this offseason as a free agent. So it's possible that one of the club's primary weaknesses last season -- the Orioles' .313 mark was 10th of 15 teams in the American League -- worsened. There is still time to improve it with a free agent such as designated hitter Kendrys Morales, whose career OBP in seven major league seasons is .333. But, for now, there doesn't seem to be an obvious increase in OBP on the horizon unless holdovers such as Nick Markakis and Adam Jones improve in that area.